Now a year after Kitchen 1540 restaurant’s Executive Chef, Scott Thomas Dolbee, debuted a new seasonal menu featuring American cuisine he describes as “playful, whimsical and modern,” the effort is a resounding success. This as the award-winning restaurant—a landmark inside the picturesque L’Auberge Del Mar hotel—continues to garner industry acclaim and patron accolades.

May 6, 2013 (Quito, Ecuador) – The Ministry of Tourism for Ecuador reports that the country has been recognized as a leading luxury travel destination for 2013 by the exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Ecuador’s distinctive luxury offering showcases the country’s abundant biodiversity and rich cultural heritage, positioning the destination among the top 20 most popular emerging destinations in a recent survey of Virtuoso’s member travel advisors.

Nothing spells romance like an intimate dinner for two but who says Valentine’s Day is the only time that calls for something spectacular? For times when even booking the best table at the hot new restaurant just won’t cut it, you can always count on nature to provide the unforgettable.  Here are our five top ultimate dining experiences that are guaranteed to add the wow factor to any romantic occasion.

CHICAGO - Since the opening of the first six rooms of its luxury hotel in February, the new private island resort on Isla Palenque, in Panama, has received glowing reviews and sold out its exclusive Founders Club for vacation homeowners in just 10 weeks.

VIENNA — As luscious and curvaceous as on the day that she was sculpted, the naked lady adorns the 1900 building in Vienna’s central square. But now this sinuous symbol of the historic Austrian city is being offered luxurious new clothes. Lots of them.

New private jet operator Intrav Private Jet is targeting ultra-affluent travelers with a bespoke planning service to personalize around-the-world tours. Each tour will accommodate 50 guests for an around-the-world journey in a luxury Boeing jet. Intrav’s inaugural tour is scheduled for April 7-May 1, 2014 and priced at $99,950 per person.

Monaco is the byword for glamour, gaming and the globe’s greatest Grand Prix. It boasts more bars, cars and Michelin stars per square metre than anywhere else on earth. On the weekend of 25th May, the world peers in at the planet's chicest city-state. This most glamorous episode of the Formula 1 calendar is the one every driver wants to win.

Passion for perfection, attention to detail, understated elegance, modesty, respect and care for the staff – have been at the heart of Mme Maja Oetker’s philosophy to preserve and enhance the reputation of Hotel du Cap Eden Roc,

This year, Churchill Downs unveils a posh new luxury area dubbed "The Mansion." Admission goes for $7,000-$12,500. Former NBA player Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman reportedly purchased nearly half of The Mansion's nearly 300 tickets.

After being stuck at the No. 2 spot for the last two years, triple Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca moved up a rung Monday night, knocking Danish restaurant Noma off its perch to take the title of world’s best restaurant.

Whether mom wants to relax and rejuvenate or explore and exercise, these luxury hotels are rolling out all the stops to pamper moms this Mother’s Day (May 12). From decadent brunches to “spa sleepovers,” below are seven luxurious escapes for moms this May.

Perhaps the most magical of all cities, Paris is renowned for its iconic landmarks, unparalleled art, exquisite cuisine and legendary fashion. From the designer stores of the emblematic Champs-Elysées and exclusive boutiques on rue Saint-Honoré, to the famous macarons at Laudurée and historic art collections at the Louvre, the City of Light is brimming with culture, romance and luxury.